Lesbian activist held captive in Congo to ‘cure her gayness’

A Manchester-based rights campaigner is returning to the UK after being held against her will in the Democratic Republic of Congo when her mother handed her passport over to a Congolese group that ‘fixes’ homosexuality.

Christina Fonthes’ partner, BBC sports presenter Jessica Creighton, said the 27-year-old visited Congo with her mother and sister to visit family before her passport was stolen by the family who wanted to keep her in Congo to ‘fix’ her sexuality.

“It became apparent that her family were unhappy with her decision to be an out lesbian.

“They took her passport and (were) refusing to give it back. They have said they want to keep her in Congo and ‘cure her of her gayness’,” Ms Creighton told The Independent.

Ms Fonthes had tweeted to an organisation she works with and said “PLS PLS CHECK YOUR EMAILS ASAP!!!!!!” She tweeted again shortly after saying “My passport has been stolen BY MUM. and I need to return to the uk asap.”

Ms Fonthes was held at her aunt’s home, which she then fled to seek refuge with a friend before going to the British Embassy in Kinshasa.

Congolese police arrested her and her friend when they left the embassy but her mother, who had reported her missing, helped have them released back into the family’s custody.